Fractions

Halves and Quarters

Year 1 · Year 2

✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to recognise and find a half of a shape.
✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to recognise and find a quarter of a shape.
✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to recognise and find a half of a small quantity of objects.
✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to recognise and find a quarter of a small quantity of objects.

Key concepts

Whole

A whole thing is all of it, not split up. It is one complete item or group.

Half (1/2)

When you split a whole into two parts that are exactly the same size, each part is called a half. We write a half as 1/2. Two halves make one whole.

1/2

Quarter (1/4)

When you split a whole into four parts that are exactly the same size, each part is called a quarter. We write a quarter as 1/4. Four quarters make one whole.

1/4

Key facts to remember

1A half means 2 equal parts.
2A quarter means 4 equal parts.
3Two halves make one whole.
4Four quarters make one whole.
5A quarter is smaller than a half.
6The number on the bottom of a fraction (like 2 in 1/2 or 4 in 1/4) tells you how many equal parts the whole is split into.

Worked examples

Example 1

Draw a circle and shade one half of it.

I1. Draw a circle.

II2. Draw a straight line through the middle of the circle to split it into two parts.

III3. Make sure both parts are exactly the same size.

IV4. Colour in one of these two equal parts.

Answer

A circle with one of its two equal halves shaded.

Remember, the two parts must be equal!

Example 2

Draw a square and shade one quarter of it.

I1. Draw a square.

II2. Draw a line down the middle and a line across the middle to split the square into four parts.

III3. Make sure all four parts are exactly the same size.

IV4. Colour in one of these four equal parts.

Answer

A square with one of its four equal quarters shaded.

All four parts must be the same size for them to be quarters.

Example 3

There are 8 biscuits. Find one half of the biscuits.

I1. Count the total number of biscuits: 8.

II2. To find a half, we need to share them into 2 equal groups.

III3. Share the 8 biscuits into 2 groups: 1, 2, 3, 4 in the first group; 5, 6, 7, 8 in the second group.

IV4. Count how many biscuits are in one group.

Answer

One half of 8 biscuits is 4 biscuits.

You can draw 8 biscuits and circle them into two equal groups to help.

Example 4

There are 12 sweets. Find one quarter of the sweets.

I1. Count the total number of sweets: 12.

II2. To find a quarter, we need to share them into 4 equal groups.

III3. Share the 12 sweets into 4 groups, giving one to each group until all are gone: Group 1 gets 3, Group 2 gets 3, Group 3 gets 3, Group 4 gets 3.

IV4. Count how many sweets are in one group.

Answer

One quarter of 12 sweets is 3 sweets.

Sharing into 4 equal groups helps you find a quarter.

Common mistakes

✗Splitting a shape into parts that are not the same size when trying to find a half or a quarter.
✗Sharing objects into groups that are not equal when finding a fraction of a quantity.
✗Getting mixed up between a half and a quarter, for example, thinking a quarter means 2 parts.
✗Counting the wrong number of parts after splitting a shape or sharing objects.

Exam tips

★Always make sure your parts are exactly the same size when you are splitting shapes or sharing objects.
★You can draw pictures or use real objects (like counters or blocks) to help you share quantities into equal groups.
★Count very carefully when you are sharing or counting the parts of a shape.
★Read the question carefully to know if you need to find a half or a quarter.

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